Laryngeal mucociliary transport: normal values and under the influence of anesthetics. An experimental study in rabbits.

The larynx is the point of confluence of all tracheobronchial secretions and of the particles trapped within them. A study is made of laryngeal mucociliary transport using charcoal particles in 8 anesthetized rabbits and in 8 more during the immediate postmortem period. Most secretions were found to reach the posterior commissure, and were then swallowed.

Thoracoscopic pericardial fenestration: diagnostic and therapeutic aspects.

The cause of cardiac tamponade is only established in 50% of cases. This problem is most commonly treated by pericardiocentesis alone, pericardiotomy being reserved for cases of recurrence and pericardiectomy for those patients presenting with constrictive pericarditis. A series of 16 patients treated with pericardial fenestration via a thoracoscope is presented.

Accessory nerve electroneurography by magnetic stimulation in normal subjects.

An electroneurographic study was made of the accessory nerve in 15 healthy subjects by conventional peripheral electrical stimulation and transcranial magnetic stimulation at three different levels: cortical contralateral (frontoparietal), homolateral occipital and at the base of the skull. The motor evoked potential (MEP) obtained by magnetic stimulation at the skull base exhibited greater latency and amplitude than that recorded by conventional peripheral electrical stimulation. The MEP obtained by stimulating at occipital level again exhibited a greater latency than that corresponding to skull base stimulation, but the amplitude was smaller.